The outstanding achievements of students at Hartlepool College of Further Education were rewarded at a special ceremony.

About 40 successful students were presented with certificates and awards by Hartlepool MP Iain Wright.

All the students had completed higher education programmes including foundation degrees, certificates in education, diplomas in management studies, higher national certificates, higher national diplomas and teaching programmes.

The event also marked the opening of the Centre of Vocational Excellence in Technical and Design Engineering and the Hartlepool Higher Education Centre for Health and Care.

The two new centres are equipped with specialist equipment and state-of-the-art information technology facilities.